Danny Fox delighted to be out of 'quarantine', as Nottingham Forest look to secure another impressive result at Middlesbrough

The last time the Reds won at the Riverside, Danny Fox was sat on his sofa having been frozen out under Dougie Freedman. This time around, he wants to play a central role as Aitor Karanka returns to his former club

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Even Osborn is likely to start at left-back, rather than in the midfield role he occupied that January afternoon, as a goal from Jamie Ward helped Forest to a narrow 1-0 win against a Middlesbrough side who were barely used to conceding goals on home soil, never mind losing.

Fox was, very literally, miles away from the team, watching the match unfold from the comfort of his sofa, having been deemed surplus to requirements by then manager Dougie Freedman, who had ordered him to train away from the rest of the first team squad.

But this time around, the fact Fox will be very much at the core of Karanka’s plans, tells a story of revival and rejuvenation.

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“That was perhaps the low of my Forest career, but that is part and parcel of football, isn’t it? It is all about opinions and, for whatever reason, Dougie did not fancy me back then. Maybe I was not performing to the level he wanted me to.

“But that is the beauty of football, isn’t it? Everyone has an opinion and my job now is to ensure the current gaffer continues to have the right opinion of me.

“I am just really excited, because I am happy to be here. If I wasn’t happy, I would not have wanted to stay here.

Aitor Karanka will come up against Tony Pulis on Saturday at Boro (Image: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

“I genuinely think something special is going to happen here and I want to be a part of that.

“If we can finish the season strongly, we can attract the right kind of player in the summer and go from there.”

Given his recent renaissance, it is no surprise Fox is enjoying his football.

And, while a trip to face play-off chasing Middlesbrough will not pose an easy challenge, Fox says it is the kind of game Forest’s squad do seem to relish.

But he says it is important for them to produce their best performances in every game – not just against the better sides in the division.

“You do enjoy these challenges. If you look at the games we have performed well in and got good results in, they have been big games against teams who have been fighting for something,” said Fox.

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“We need to be more consistent. We were shocking against Hull, for example. We just need the right mentality. We need to be stronger, mentally, to perform to the best level in every game.

“Against Derby we were resolute, against Sheffield United we should have won there.

“We all enjoy the big games better. You go into them knowing that you have to perform. In other games, there can be a lull. You might not be as ‘at it’, for whatever reason.

“It is just a mentality thing. To get out of this league, you have to be ‘at it’ in every game, regardless of whoever you are playing against.”

Michael Mancienne wins a header (Image: Mark Fear)

Fox believes good fortune has played a part in his Forest revival, with his latest run in the team, in the heart of defence, prompted by Michael Mancienne falling ill and Joe Worrall picking up an injury, prior to the game at Burton, which was the start of Forest’s unbeaten run.

“It can be down to fortune sometimes. Mance and Joe have played a lot of games this season. But Mance was sick against Burton and Joe was injured," he said.

“That gave me a chance to play. If I had not performed to the standards the gaffer expected or wanted, I might not have played the next game. It can be about timing and luck sometimes.

“I was playing when I got injured. But things eventually swung in my favour that day, when Mance was ill and Joe was injured.”

But Fox does feel being left-footed might work in his favour.

“I haven’t got a wand of a left foot – I find stewards more than I find the lads,” joked Fox. “But it does give balance to the team, having me with a left foot though, I guess.

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“We have balance through the team now. Joe Lolley is left footed and Ben (Osborn) is as well, playing on the left.

“It is down to me to keep playing well, because Mance played a lot of games on the left side and did really well, in my opinion.

“Under Mark (Warburton) we played out from the back and I was on the ball a lot more. Now we are more solid and that is not because myself and Tobias (Figueiredo) are playing in the centre of defence. It is because of the players in front of us and around us.

Forest captain Ben Watson (Image: Dan Westwell)

“The likes of Jack (Colback) and Ben (Watson) and the partnership they have got… Tendayi (Darikwa) and Matty Cash down the right and Ben and Joe Lolley down the left. There are some good partnerships developing all over the pitch.

“But, equally, with the way the gaffer has us set up and prepared, I am sure that if Mance came into the team ahead of me, he would soon have a similar relationship with Tobias.

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“Which is why I know I need to stay fit and continue to perform to the level the gaffer wants. I am enjoying every minute of it. I just want to contribute to some good performances and good results between now and the end of the season.

“Then hopefully we can come back fresh and start something special for next season.”

Fox will hope this is a trip to Middlesbrough - and potentially a victory - he gets to enjoy first-hand, without having to rely on television updates.